Recovery of metal values from copper converter and smelter slags by ferric chloride leaching

A study of the recovery of copper, nickel and cobalt from copper converter and smelter slags by leaching with ferric chloride is reported. The converter slag from Ghatsila, India contained 4.03% copper, 1.99% nickel and 0.48% cobalt and the smelter slag contained 1.76% copper, 0.23% nickel and 0.19% cobalt. Various parameters including the effect of stirring, leaching time, leaching temperature, concentration of ferric chloride, solid-liquid ratio and particle size, on the extraction of copper, nickel and cobalt have been studied. 92% copper, 28% nickel and 24% cobalt could be extracted from converter slag under optimum conditions, whereas 54% copper, 71% nickel and 44% cobalt could be extracted from smelter slag.